soon come

In the Jamaican way, I can say that Jerry soon come. I think that in Jamaica, soon is a fairly relative term and often does not mean 'right away'. I have a pretty specific idea of when Jerry will be leaving Iraq and a loose idea of when that means he'll be back on post. But for security purposes, I have to remain vague about details and therefore can't include you all in an official countdown. I'd love to be shouting it from the rooftops, but protecting our soldiers' safe return is obviously more important :-) But I think that I can safely say that he 'soon come' and will let all of you know when he's safely at home and when I'm able to hang this:

One of my co-workers picked that up a few months ago for me and I've been waiting to be able to hang it!

As I come down to these final weeks, I find myself completely overwhelmed with emotion and the need to put everything in order. I'm determined to have everything in the house just perfect. Which is a little silly because Jerry doesn't really care about any of that! I'm stocking up on his toiletries and food items so that he comes to a house made for him. Time is passing in such a strange manner. I'm traveling a lot for work and while the weeks seem to be flying by, the minutes are not. I have a constant sense of urgency or impatience as I wait for the day to come when I welcome Jerry home. In many ways, I feel the way I did standing in the church moments before I was to walk down the aisle. I was so completely overwhelmed with emotion and anticipation that I wasn't sure that I could take it. Of course, moments later I had the release of walking down the aisle and seeing Jerry's smiling face, full of love. Now, I have a similar feeling almost constantly, with almost no release (other than the unexplained crying on occasion). This is a very intense experience, to say the least. An experience that I'm happy to say is nearing its end.

some day my prince will come!

And some day is coming soon!! At this time next month, we should be together again! It's important for me to remember that it's my prince that will be returning. Not Prince Charming. The army puts a significant amount of focus on preparing spouses for the return of deployed soldiers and the not-so-great changes they can expect to see in their loved ones. Things like being quick to anger and talking in a way that's appropriate with fellow soldiers or in the chain of command, but not necessarily a way that's appropriate for or appreciated by the soldier's spouse! We're warned that patience and understanding will be important tools for us after the honeymoon period that occurs when our spouses first return, during the readjusment period that follows.

I believe that there's another kind of change that can occur that I haven't really heard anyone discuss. I can't imagine that I'm the only one to romanticize or idealize my husband in his absence. In my mind, he has changed to a man who is thoughtful in ways he never was before (not to say he's not thoughtful, just not in the ways I imagine) and who will do things with me that he's never done before. Awhle ago, I was taking Scooter on his evening walk and I saw a husband and wife walking hand in hand as they walked their dog. My immediate thought was, "I can't wait until Jerry comes home and he and I can have walks like those." Almost as soon as the thought crossed my mind, I actually laughed out loud. Who did I think was going to be coming home to me?! Jerry has never consistently walked with me and Scooter. Perhaps in the early days of our relationship he was more eager to do things like that, but certainly not in years. Not that he never walks with us. But it just struck me that there's a tendency for me to romanticize my husband and turn him into an imaginary perfect husband while he's not here to remind me of his...ahem...flaws. Or perhaps I should say, the unique things that make him Jerry.

As the time draws closer to me welcoming Jerry back, I need to remind myself that the person returning to me is still the same person who left, at least at heart. I may have to adjust to some personality changes that have occurred due to deployment and may have to remind myself not to compare him to the Prince Charming Jerry that has developed in my head. And I remind myself every day of the things about him that make me love him. And I know that those things have not changed.

the countdown is on!

In these first days of October, I'm looking ahead one month to the first week in November, in which I will (finally) be reunited with my Jerry Giant! With things getting extremely busy at work and much work travel planned in the coming weeks, I expect October to fly by. I had initially expected that these last weeks would drag by and be hard to endure. Boy, was I wrong! Weekends drag a wee bit, but given all the housework that needs to be done after being gone most of the week, even the weekend hours go by a little too quickly.

My job has changed significantly in the last several months. For the better? That's yet to be decided. The program has changed managerial hands and is being completely restructured. The new structure will require me to travel more and do less of the coordinating that I really enjoy. Because of the new structure, it is unlikely that I will be continuing with the program when my contract ends in January. I have very mixed feelings about this. Right now, the demands of my position have increased significantly as I've taken on the responsibilities of other positions during the transition period. At this pace, work is a stressful and unhappy place for me. Taking a break from it will definitely be welcome. It is no longer the job for which I was hired and now not a job that I love. It is not a job that is worth the stress that I'm constantly under. On the other hand, I'm not fully prepared to lose the income nor the structured schedule. I remember how unhappy I was when I first moved to Germany and had such difficulties finding employment. Because jobs are so scarce, I worry that I will again face months of unemployment which does not suit me well. My hope is that I'll find something shortly after my contract ends, giving me a slight break but allowing me to return to employment fairly quickly.

In the meantime, I'm also preparing to take the GMAT in December in order to pursue an MBA program in healthcare administration. The busy work schedule is making it difficult to put as much time in as I'd like on the preparation, but I'm hoping for the best!

So my life is a whirl of activity right now. Between the excitement of Jerry's return, the craziness of work, the pressure of the GMAT, and trying to get myself in healthier shape, I'm constantly going! I've oftened wished that there were a few more hours in the day to help me accomplish all that I want to and boy am I feeling that now!

As much as I'm looking forward to our vacation in the States in December, I fear that it's not going provide the relaxation I'm really going to need. It's going to be jam-packed with driving, fun activities, driving, visiting family and friends and driving! I'm going to need a vacation after the vacation! Which just might be where unemployment fits in :-)

vibrato

Most people who know me think of me as a pretty ballsy person. But the fact of the matter is I'm really a chicken-shit that hides it well! I do force myself to face challenges and there's very little I won't do if dared, but the truth is that the unknown causes a great deal of anxiety for me, which pobably explains my extreme organizational tendencies and my self-imposed nickname 'Preparation H'! I suppose in some ways that I am ballsy because I don't let my anxiety completely paralyze me and I push through the stuff that frightens me. This past week, I had to take a solo road trip for work that required me driving a government vehicle to 10 military health clinics throughout Germany, many of which I had never visited. Going to numerous posts that were unknown to me caused a great deal of stress, but I had to push through it. And now I feel great! Some of the experiences were not very enjoyable, especially the post split into two. Naturally, I entered the incorrect part of post first and had to navigate a maze of construction to exit it and enter the correct portion. Once in the correct section, I drove round and round in another mess of construction before finally discovering my destination! On the flip side, I'm tempted to write a bit of a love letter to the autobahn! What a great driving experience! And I definitely am grateful for my trusty Navigon! The GPS has given me a freedom in Germany that I wouldn't have been likely to find if confined to maps and printouts of computer directions, especially while here on my own. All in all, I'm happy to have come through this experience feeling much more secure and accomplished. And I'm proud to have again set my chickenshitness aside to conquer my fears!

medal of honor

SFC Jared C. Monti was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor this week. I encourage you all to visit this site to read about a man who acted with true heroism:

http://downloads.army.mil/medalofhonor/monti/index.html

I think that we all hope that we would be able to act with such honor under such circumstances, but I think that there are very few who would move beyond self-preservation to act with such courage and selflessness.

cold feet

Well, the weather outside has been frightful. And alas, we have no fire inside that's delightful. Instead of snow, the weather has been full of dreary (and very cold!) rain. The grey days make me unwilling to get out of bed in the morning. And the cold has me dreading bedtime because of my iceblock feet. Crawling into bed the other night, I was shivering and realized I had to trade out the summer jammies for winter ones (the awesome kiss mark ones that Ma and Kim sent me for Christmas/Birthday last year!). So clothed from head to toe in kisses and long winter jammy jams, I snuggled back into bed with Scooter. But my feet were still so cold and I was still shivering! It reminded me that I didn't have my feet warmer....Jerry! When we're in bed he'll always put his big warm feets on my cold ones to warm me up. It's a small thing and a silly thing, but it's something I love about him. My feet are seriously cold and I don't know how willing I'd be to touch something that cold if I didn't have to! But despite my nightly warnings that my feet are freezing and he better stay far far away from them, he always warms up my toesies, sacrificing his own comfort. If that doesn't say love, I don't know what does.

Well, with no Jerry I was forced to try some other methods to get warm. The first was a no-brainer yet it somehow didn't even occur to me when the temperature first started to dip: turn on the heater! Even with the heater on, the toes weren't feeling it and I had to resort to slipper socks in bed. I hate wearing socks in bed!! Then, I found the best trick of all. I readjusted my position in the bed, forcing Scooter to readjust as well. When he moved, he left a wonderful warm spot on the bed that I quickly moved into! If I ever had any doubts, Scooter has proven himself! (And of course there have never been any doubts about the Scooter-bug!)

go go panthers!

It's that time of year again...football season! We don't have Daddy Giant home with us to enjoy it. And frankly, he's what makes football season fun for me and Scooter. But as a sign of solidarity, Scooter and I are sporting our Panthers jerseys and counting the weeks until we get to have fun football Sundays as a family again!

Scooter doesn't have an 'official' Jersey quite yet. But he does have this super sporty Panthers blue bandana!

It even has his favorite player on it, number 89, Steve Smith!

But Scooter does look a little bummed that he doesn't have an official NFL-licensed cool jersey. So I looked online to find Scooter his own Panthers jersey. Turns out, doggy jerseys aren't really made for pug measurements. Because they're little and stocky anything that would meet puggy girth measurements would be hanging off of them everywhere else. The next option is to search for a toddler t-shirt for him. Perhaps I'll tackle that when we go to the states. Until then, he'll continue to cheer the Panthers on in his bandana (which I think is crazy cute!). Go go Panthers!

have a holly jolly christmas

...it's the best time of the year! But does that time of year really have to start in September?! Last month (you know, August!), I stepped into the commissary wearing a tank top and sweaty from my walk (because it was hot, you know, because it was August) and saw a huge display of Halloween candy! Now I love my York Peppermint Battys as much as then next person, but I have to put my foot down on the ridiculous meter when the Halloween candy is being sold over two months in advance! I'd barely gotten over the shock of that sight when I thought I caught a glimpse of some Christmas bows on an end cap at the PX...Christmas! I kept walking, certain I'd imagined what I saw or at least misinterpreted. Well, a few days later I found myself in the same area of the store as the first maybe-sighting. And sure enough, a full aisle of Christmas lights, decorations and bows had been set up. And a whole array of bikes and large toy items had been displayed as well. Craziness!

The weather has been doing its part to put us all in the holiday spirit. I don't know that if in my old age I'm simply forgetting how seasons and weather changes work, but I seem to recall that it's usually a gradual transition from summer to fall/winter. Yet in just a few days, I went from tank tops to fleece! Yesterday, to test the weather I put on my big ol' Chappy sweatshirt to go outside, hoping that when I stepped out into the sun it would clearly be too hot for the sweatshirt. My hopes were dashed as gusts of very cold wind affirmed my clothing choice. While I enjoy the fall, I wasn't quite ready to say goodbye to summer :-(

another day closer...

As much as I've been griping lately, it's another day closer to Jerry coming home, something I remind myself every day. And soon it will be just one more day until I see him. While I'm loaded with the frustrations of this past year, I am also full of excitement and hope for his return, even if sometimes I seem too caught up in the misery of now to focus on potential of the future. The past couple of entries have been absolutely true and honest, but they don't present the whole picture. And honestly, it's this roller coaster of ups and downs that adds to the frustrations of deployment. I do get bogged down by emotion when things aren't going well between us and the distance makes it nearly impossible to have any sort of real resolution. But I also spend a good deal of time thinking about how much I admire what Jerry's going through and feel proud that we're going to make it through this very difficult time together. And I truly believe that making it through this will make us stronger....I just need to hang in there and do a better job at distancing myself and not having such extreme reactions to things.

So yes, it's another day closer and it's a new day with a fresh perspective and an improved attitude!

where does the good go?

Earlier this year, a good friend (Karen) sent Jerry a care package. Not only did it include chocolate bacon (!) and other treats, but there was a just-for-Jerry mix CD. One of the songs was by Tegan and Sara. Jerry liked the song so much that he purchased all of the Tegan and Sara CDs and then shared them with me. I especially like the song Where Does the Good Go? and unfortunately its lyrics seem far too relevant to me right now:

Where do you go with your broken heart in tow?
What do you do with the left over you?
And how do you know when to let go?
Where does the good go? Where does the good go?

Look me in the eye and tell me you don't find me attractive.
Look me in the heart and tell me you won't go.
Look me in the eye and promise no love is like our love.
Look me in the heart and unbreak broken it wont happen.

It's love that leaves and breaks the seal of always thinking you would be
real happy and healthy strong and calm.
Where does the good go? Where does the good go?

There's more to the song, but you get the idea. While I thought that Jerry and I we were out of the woods, I was mistaken. I've spent so much of the deployment wondering where the good went and hoping and praying that it comes back. And frankly, I'm scared that it won't. This is the price to be paid for the army. It's not just the lives that are put in danger, it's the relationships and families that break under the pressures of army life. The physical separation is horrible, but the emotional distance is worse. While I never question the love that Jerry and I have for each other, I sometimes wonder if it's enough. I look at the above picture (another great one from Tuesday's Frog!) and the life and fun and joy of it seem so distant.

We have received word that Jerry is likely to be coming home during the first couple of weeks in November. With less than 60 days to go, I'm hoping that the time flies and that our reunion helps us put all of this drama, difficulty and doubt to rest. Until then, please keep us and Jerry's continued safety in your thoughts and prayers.

a belated happy birthday

from a bad bad granddaughter to a wonderful grandmother who celebrated her birthday yesterday with no birthday wishes from me!! Apologies to all I may have overlooked or neglected while wrapped in my shroud of self-pity during this deployment!

happy day

As far as I'm concerned, nothing makes a bad day less crappy or a good day even better than a surprise piece of personal mail in my mailbox. Like most people, my mailbox is usually full of billing statements and magazines. (There are also frequent yellow slips letting me know that I have a package waiting for me. Not because people send me things, but because like many army spouses in Europe, I frequently enjoy online shopping!) It is not very often that I see a colored envelope or an envelope that has been addressed by hand or has the unmistakable shape and weight of a card. But this past Friday, I had a good day (It was Friday after all. And it was the Friday before a three-day weekend!) made better by receiving this great card in the mail:

It was from my sister-in-law Elizabeth and her family (Ian, Elinor and Ken) and was such a sweet surprise. She said that she sent the same card to Jerry as well. I have to say, that it was nice to be thought of in such a special way. So often, I feel stranded here. Though Jerry would argue that my experience is not nearly as awful as his in Iraq, I'd probably (okay definitely) disagree. I may have a lot of luxuries that he doesn't have. But I have a loneliness that doesn't go away. Not only do I miss having my husband physically present in my day-to-day life (thank goodness for the internet, providing a way to maintain a virtual presence) but I miss the familiarity of home and the network of family and friends that often seems so distant. So little things, like the receipt of this card, go a long way in making me feel more secure and grounded at a time when it's sometimes a struggle to keep pushing forward with a positive attitude. Thank you guys for brightening my day!

Now that the deployment is winding down and the end is in sight, I can reveal a little bit more about how truly terrible it's been. People often say that they can't even imagine going through it or say how hard it must be. I suspect that these people try to imagine it and come up with a pretty dismal picture. Honestly, I suspect that the reality is beyond most people's imagination and that whatever people are imagining, the reality is ten times worse. What makes it so bad is that it just keeps going. People go through rough patches of one kind or another throughout their lives. But a full year (or more) of rough patch is just too much! Of course, I'm hopeful that this will be the only deployment we face. But realistically, there will be more and I hope that this one is the worst because it's the first. This deployment has truly been a learning experience in which Jerry and I learned a lot about ourselves and each other and how we deal with deployment. Frankly, our coping skills are not very compatible and there have been stretches during this deployment that our commitment to each other was challenged by our behavior toward each other and poor communication. It has made us realize that if we go through this again, we will need to be better prepared and have a better communication plan that supports both of our needs and coping styles. There have been many tear-filled nights (and days) and it's become clear that this is a life for which I am not naturally suited. Under normal circumstances, I am not only full of emotion but I let that emotion out, in tears or exuberance. Yet during deployment, that kind of extreme emotional response that characterizes me just makes things harder and I find myself needing to learn how to build up the kind of shell that comes very naturally to Jerry. On the other hand, he so effectively builds that shell that he's become very unavailable to me emotionally, which clearly doesn't work for this overemotional Italian girl! I suspect that this is way more information than you bargained for when checking in on the GiantPantz blog! But I'm trying to stay true to myself and honest about the life I/we are leading. One of the reasons I've been absent from the blog for the past several months is because this deployment was causing such pain in my life that I couldn't bear to put it in writing. But I also didn't want to be filling entries by glossing over the truth or ignoring the reality. So now, I am able to be both honest about the hardships and positive about the future. Jerry and I have been communicating in a much more positive way and we've both recognized the areas that need some attention when it comes to supporting each other during separation. Time is starting to fly by and I'm certain that before I know it, Jerry will be home. And a few short weeks later, we'll be on our way to the states for three weeks of vacationing and visiting with family and friends.

In other happy day news, today is a happy day of birthdays! Yesterday, my sister Kim moved into her first college dorm room and today she's turning 19! Today is also my mother-in-law Barbara's birthday as well! Happy birthday to both of you wonderful ladies!

Finally, how could any day not be happy when I have this charming face to greet me?

Despite my complaining and despite the hardships and trials that this deployment has introduced to my life, I feel blessed for the wonderful things that fill it. I am thankful for all my family and friends. I'm thankful for the cutest pug on the planet. I'm thankful for online shopping and the things I can buy to decorate my home! And I'm thankful for the wonderful husband I have who is working so hard and enduring so much for his family, his country and the freedoms we all enjoy and value.

a pug's life

Check me out. Here I am enjoying my new bed that Ma bought me from supercool Bark and Giggle Boutique. I may be a male pug, but I like a good boutique! Ahhh, it's a pug's life! Get it?....like the movie! What?! Ma just told me that the movie is actually called A Bug's Life! Well, that's just dumb....what kind of life does a bug have?! Who would want to watch a bug's life? A pug's life is more like it!

In addition to the bed, Ma got me this chocolate paisley skinny tie:

It's not really a tie. It's a harness, with matching leash. Aren't I one snazzy pug?

I've been hanging out a lot with my good friends. This is Bosley and me waiting for Ma to let us come back inside. We like to play outside, but we'd rather be inside where the treats are and where we can sleep a lot and get lots of lovin' from Ma.

This is another one of my friends: Beevo. He's a big dog but he's totally ascared of me and runs away when I chase him! We have lots of fun together!

The three of us spend lots of time together.

Bosley and I really are quite dashing!

movin' on up

So four entries in one day may be going a bit overboard. But I have news that is worthy of this fourth entry! For the past two months, Jerry has been studying and preparing for the promotion board in order to get his promotion to Sergeant. Yesterday, he finally went to the board and got through it with flying colors. He performed better than the other 21 soldiers appearing at the board and received the maximum number of points. I'm very proud of him and applaud all of the hard work that got him there. The past months have been quite stressful for him (and therefore for us) and it's good to see that the hard work paid off. Though the board is over, there are still some administrative things that will need to happen before his rank is officially changed to Sergeant. Until then, he will be Corporal Promotable. We hope to see the SGT insignia pinned on (well velcroed on, but that doesn't sound as good!) around the 1st of October. A big congratulations to him!!

crystal, crystal everywhere

I guess I'm trying to make up for lost time by bombarding you with multiple entries and tons of pictures!

Several weeks ago, a friend from work invited me to join her on an outing to a crystal sale at a crystal warehouse. I said, "Sure, but I don't really like crystal." Well, 200 euro and almost 70 pieces later, I guess that the truth is that I do like crystal, just not the more traditional pieces that I was picturing in my head. The vase above caught my eye from across the room, the first piece of many that I had to have. It is amazing to me that such beautiful pieces are made so near to my home (less than half an hour away) and are available at amazing prices. Many of the pieces have slight flaws, but they're imperceptable to my eyes. Some of the pieces are Tiffany, Waterford or Lenox! And I have to say that I love a bargain!

Feel free to scroll past the many many pics if you have no interest in the crystal!

This one is a simple Tiffany piece:

These are hand blown glass balls. I watched the artist making other glass creations...very, very cool!

This piece was my big splurge. I purchased it in the regular crystal shop, rather than the warehouse. I debated with myself over the purchase, but just kept returning to this hand-made bowl. It fits our homeand our style perfectly and I'm so glad that I didn't leave the shop without it!

This is another of my favorite pieces, a Tiffany rock plate. And one of the best bargains. Purchased for 7 euros (about $10), it sells for $140!! What a deal! Though now you all know my crystal secret!

I purchased several serving pieces, so that Jerry and I will be equipped to be good hosts for entertaining:

I got some fun knick-knacks....a Christmas tree that reflects light beautifully and a snowman tealight holder, along with a crystal Mnnie Mouse, reversible taper/votive holders, and a ring holder.

When we first moved to Germany, a box of items never made it to us. That box contained sets of drinking glasses that were never really replaced. This seemed like an excellent opportunity to replace the glasses and add some extras!

I love these old-fashioned champagne glasses, a much more practical option than the very breakable flutes in the hands of a certain husband.

A couple of decanters:

And finally, a very cool martini set! Now I just need to start liking martinis! I think this will be my Cosmopolitan set instead!

All in all, a very successful shopping outing!

weeds...

I know what you're thinking. He IS one handsome devil! Despite a few gray hairs on his chinny chin chin, Scooter's looking pretty great for a pug at the ripe ol' age of 8 and half! (Eight and a half years...I can hardly believe I've had him that long...it seems like yesterday that I first saw him as a tiny 8-week old puppy!) We've been taking lots of long walks lately and I think it's the source of his youthful appearance, tiny waist and much more manageable nails!

Unfortunately, he's posing in a yard that is completely unmanageable! When I first learned that we were moving to this housing area, I was so excited! One of the biggest sources of excitement (other than the very spacious brand spankin' new home) was the fenced in yard. Now this fenced in yard is one of my biggest sources of frustration! While I don't mind mowing the grass, the mere thought of dealing with the overgrown 'landscaped' section of the yard has the power to bring me to near-tears. Actually dealing with the overgrown mess has induced actual tears and a lot of cursing! Dealing with the yard and with any car issues are the two things that make my blood boil and straight up piss me off about deployment. It's not that I think that the yard and the car are Jerry's duties (I'm way too much of a feminist for that!), but I do know that they would be shared burdens if he were here. But because of the deployment, if I don't take care of these things, no one will. And after long work hours and the demands of everything else that goes into maintaining a house, it just doesn't seem like there's enough time to deal with the yard. And sadly, I'm not. I'm letting it be the overgrown jungle with the promise from Jerry that next year he'll take care of it...or we'll take care of it together. So while the grass is kept neat, the rest of the yard is a little bit of a white trash embarrassment:

Okay, that picture is a bad example of the grass being kept neat. Normally, it's in much better condition than that....the picture was taken immediately before an overdue mowing!

To give you an idea of the weeds that have struck fear into my heart, take a look:

Seriously, this is the stuff of nightmares! Can you see the spikes all over those things?! In Germany, the chemicals used to destroy weeds are tightly controlled, making it difficult to just spray them and be done with it. In addition to these monsters, the yard is frought with stinging nettles, plants that actually sting you! Even through gloves! I've managed to clear a small section of the yard of the nasty nettles and thistles, but the process is a hilarious one, involving wielding shovels and shears at arm length to avoid the spikes and stinging poisons that are anxious to attack me!

After battling the monsters in our yard, Scooter and I often retire to the cool tranquility of the house. He's created a little pug cabana by scooching one of his doggy beds right up to the window and then positioning himself between the curtain and the sheers, allowing him a little privacy while basking in the sun. My escape from the brutal terrors of the yard is a nice bubble bath with a good book and a glass of wine (or Bailey's). Ahhhh.

sisters...

I remember graduating from high school and going off to college sixteen years ago. And now it's my baby sister's turn! I was so happy to be there on the day she graduated from high school this past June. Soon she will be packing her things and going off to college. Time sure does fly...it seems like yesterday she was in the car with my parents and brother driving off as they left me in front of the Marvin Center at GW. She was in a car seat sucking on her pacifier! Look at her now! This weekend she and the women of the family had a pre-college girls' night. I wish I could have been there to join them and to celebrate this exciting transition! I hope Kimble knows that I'm always with her in spirit, am so proud of the young woman that she has become and will always love her a bushel and a peck (and a hug around the neck)!

he's coming home!

Well, not for another three months. But suddenly, it seems like it's just around the corner! Finally!! This year has been more difficult than I could have ever imagined (and I have a pretty good imagination!) and I'm excited to finally have something to look forward to. We just purchased our plane tickets for our trip to the States in December so it seems real! It's been a long time since I've felt this optimistic and the first time that I've been able to make out the light at the end of this loooooooonngg tunnel!

As I'm thinking of the light at the end of the tunnel, here are some more photos from Jerry's trip home in May.

These are pictures from a gorge hike we took! It was spectacular!

Ha! Sometimes being short does pay off! Jerry had to watch his head as we walked through the rock tunnels. But not me!

After hiking through the gorge, we hiked up to a small bridge far, far above it to take this photo:

This is a cheese factory. When we arrived, the real cheese-makers (the cows) were out front. But by the time we left and this picture was taken, the cows had moooved. Sorry, I couldn't resist! We had some tasty cheesecake and yogurt...yummm!

In the same town as the cheese factory is this cathedral (originally a Benedictine Abbey):

Ahhh, the view from our hotel room...not bad!!

Check out the hotel's hot tub!!! That's right, not a pool, a hot tub! Very nice!

castles, castles everywhere

Well, now it seems almost silly to recount our castle adventures that we had during Jerry's R and R visit. It's been over two months since then! Today marks Jerry being thirty-four weeks into his deployment. The end is finally in sight, yet time seems to be dragging by oh so slowly! Rather than going back in time and sharing all the details of our trip, I'll show you some of the castley highlights:

(above and below) Schloss Linderhof...my favorite of King Ludwig's castles (so far...we still have to check out Chiemsee, which is modeled after Versailles).

(above) Hohenschwangau...the parental home of King Ludwig.

(below) The unfinished Neuschwanstein castle...

There was a LOT of steep walking involved to get to this castle!

There is an armed forces resort in Garmisch, which is where we spent a large chunk of R and R (and where we indulged in some amazing hot stone massages!). From there, we took day trips to the three castles in the pictures as well as a few other sites in the area. In my next entry, I'll share some pictures from the area, including pictures from our gorge walk (one of my favorite outings) and photos from a brief stay in Munich!

My plan is to return to updating the blog regularly, setting aside a little bit of time each weekend. See you next week, if not sooner :-)